FEATURED – Page 10

Cat Head Quilt Block Mini Quilt

October 22, 2018 by Amanda 41 Comments

I recently went off social media for 10 days as a challenge. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Instagram! However I completely enjoyed having no outside influences coming into my brain throughout the day! I was able to let my own mind decide what I wanted or needed to do. I found myself spending time finishing little projects and catching up on family photo albums. Several years ago I made a Halloween Cat Head Block quilt and I recently found 6 stray cat blocks! I put them together in a little quilt to hang in my sewing room.

I love the retro feeling the pop of aqua gives! It’s by Camelot and is perfect for the little 1″ setting squares!

I’m so not a plant person but we are trying to grow these cute little succulents! So darling!

Do you think I am turning into a crazy cat lady? Maybe I’ve passed up crazy!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, mini quilt, quilt, sewing

Mini Quilts Featuring Tiger Lily

October 20, 2018 by Amanda 1 Comment

I’ve spent the last week puttering around my sewing room finishing up odds and ends. It’s such a good feeling to finish things! Over 3 years ago I made these darling quilt blocks using one of my most favorite fabric lines ever “Tiger Lily”. The patterns for the blocks are from Lori Holt’s book “Vintage Farm Girl.” I’ve had the blocks tucked away for so long! I’m working on my sewing room mini quilt gallery wall and these blocks are a must!

I sewed a border on each of the 12″ blocks and then quilted and bound them! They are so darling!!!

Did you know I love cats? The cute signs are from Hobby Lobby recently!

Now to hang them up!!!

Filed Under: cat, FEATURED, mini quilt, quilt

Patchy Pumpkin Quilt

October 19, 2018 by Amanda 12 Comments

I love sewing for Halloween and Fall! Orange and Black are so amazing together!!! I created this fun little quilt to get my orange and black sewing fix! And you can make one too!!

The quilt measures 38″ square and is a perfect size for hanging on a wall or putting on a table. You could always make more blocks and turn it into a throw quilt!! How fun!

I used fabrics from my stash which is also fun! Some fabrics I’ve had for years and some are newer additions! You can use all different shades of orange and black!

Fabric Requirements:

(4) black fat quarters

(4) orange fat quarters

(16) orange charm squares (5”)

4 small scraps of green

(1)white fat quarter

(2) 1-yard white dot background fabric

Heat n Bond Lite Fusible Adhesive

HeatnBond EZ Print Sheets – Lite

1 ½ yard backing fabric

2/3 yard binding fabric

You can download the free pattern by clicking HERE.

Patchy Pumpkins Fall Quilt with Heat n Bond Lite Instructions:

To make the patchy pumpkins sew (4) charm squares together like a 4-patch

Trace the pumpkin pattern onto the Heat n Bond Lite.

Cut out around each pumpkin and stem about 1/4″. Heat set to the wrong side of the 4-patch. You can center the 4-patch or have it off center – you can even rotate it so it’s on an angle!

Let it cool and then cut out the pumpkin along the pattern line. Peel off the backing paper.

Heat set the pumpkin in the center of the quilt block. Straight stitch around the pumpkin and stem two times.

Filed Under: fall, FEATURED, Halloween, Heat n Bond, quilt

Red, White & Denim {Free Quilt Pattern}

October 4, 2018 by Amanda 6 Comments

I love red and white quilts and I love this new fabric line by Carina Gardner called So Ruby!!! I have known Carina for a few years and she is the most delightful person and such a talented designer! I love this new fabric line because you get red and white prints all in one fabric collection!!! I knew I wanted to pair it with Riley Blake’s new denim look fabric called “Shabby”. So I created this fast and fun quilt pattern that is perfect for a picnic or a soccer game!

The pattern is FREE! Just click HERE to download the PDF.

The quilt is made up of only 1 block with alternating white and red prints. I am super in love with it!! I can’t wait to send it to the quilter!

Baby Mufasa also had to get in on the quilt testing! He totally approves!

He’s just so handsome!! I think I make quilts so I can photograph him 🙂

Filed Under: FEATURED, quilt, Riley Blake

Sew Happy Sewing Machine Cover Tutorial

September 26, 2018 by Amanda 10 Comments

I’m super excited to be part of Riley Blake Designs’ Paperdoll blog tour! When I saw the delightful prints in the Paperdoll fabric line I knew I wanted to make something for my sewing studio! I love the vintage dress patterns, pin cushions and buttons in the fabric!

I have been wanting a quilt for my sewing machine! Normally it’s in use everyday, but this new school year has been a rough one and I don’t find myself sewing as much. So my trusty Bernina needs a quilt!

Essentially this is a shorter table runner with ties. You can really choose any design! You can turn it so it says “SEW” or “Happy”. I used a fat quarter bundle, 1/4 yard solid white, and 3/4 yard for binding and ties.

The finished quilt measures 21″ x 31″.

Cut the fabrics according to the measurements on the diagram above.

Sew the 2″ squares in 4-patch units, pressing toward the dark. Make (25) 4-patch units.

Download the letters by clicking HERE. Trace the letters onto Heat n Bond Lite. Cut out 1/4″ around each letter and place them on the wrong side of a black fat quarter. Heat set in place. Cut out the letters. Peel off the backing paper. Arrange them on the solid white rectangle and heat set in place. Top stitch around each letter in black thread.

Mufasa loves to sleep while I sew!

Once the letters are finished, lay out the quilt according to the diagram. Sew together in rows, pressing toward the 3 1/2″ squares.

Sew the rows together, pressing in one direction.

Baste and quilt as you would a normal quilt. I quilted loops.

Cut (3) 2 1/2″ strips on the bias for the binding. Piece end to end diagonally. Press in half. Sew the binding on as you would a quilt.

Prepare the ties by cutting (4) 4″x 24″ strips. With right sides together, fold in half lengthwise and sew 1/4″ along the long edge, ending with a point (pictured below). Turn the ties right side out and press. Baste each tie in the seam of the binding. (Place the quilt over your machine and mark where you want the ties, machines will vary).

Hand bind as you would a normal quilt, continue stitching right over the ties (below).

Once the binding is complete so is the sewing machine cover! My sewing machine looks SEW HAPPY!!!!

It also makes a cute sewing table runner if you don’t add the ties!

And for the rest of the afternoon it served as a kitty nap time blanket!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, quilt, Riley Blake, sewing, Therm O Web

Take Me To The Sea Quilt Pattern featuring Seaside by Riley Blake Designs

August 11, 2018 by Amanda 3 Comments

Summer is my favorite season of all! I could live in perpetual June-August!!

I think the reason I love summer the most is because we get to spend so much time at the beach! We love whale watching, boogie boarding, diving through the waves, watching for dolphins and seals, getting Balboa Bars, going to Surf Shops, and relaxing!!! As soon as I saw Tasha Noel’s Seaside fabrics I knew they were for me!! I designed this little quilt to show off all the adorable prints!!

The quilt measures 35″ x 41″ with each block measuring 6″ square. It’s perfect to hang on the wall of your beach house (I’m dreaming…..haha!). You can purchase it in my Etsy shop for instant PDF download!

The letters are machine appliquéd using Heat n Bond Lite. Don’t worry, they don’t take too long to cut out by hand!!

You will love that this quilt is written to accommodate layer cake (10″) squares. In fact you only NEED 13 squares – but a few extra wouldn’t hurt to add a little variety!!

I love that there is no sashing the blocks because it’s built into the pinwheel block!

It was hard to choose a border print because they are all so amazing! I went with the lobsters!

You can see the quilting detail in this photos. I quilted it myself and it always stresses me out!! From far away it doesn’t look too bad!

I love the surfer in the background of this photo! We love to go to Newport Beach and watch them surf!!

I hope you have a great rest of your summer!!!

Filed Under: appliqué, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, nautical, quilt, Riley Blake, Therm O Web, Uncategorized

Uneven 9-Patch Quilt Pattern featuring Swell Christmas

July 30, 2018 by Amanda 40 Comments

I am so in love with this new fabric line called Swell Christmas by Moda. It’s the perfect retro/vintage Christmas feel that I love! I knew I needed a quilt out of this! It’s so much pressure to determine the right pattern to make the fabrics shine. I knew I didn’t want to cut it up into small pieces, yet wanted something a little more interesting than just squares. I’m thrilled at how this quilt pattern accomplished both!!

My latest pattern, Uneven 9-Patch is such a fun pattern, especially to use with larger prints or theme print fabrics. The quilt measures 58″ x 72″ and the blocks are 12″. This version uses 1 red fat quarter and 10 Swell Christmas fat quarters with 1 1/2 yards sashing fabric.

You can purchase the pattern in my Etsy shop for instant PDF download!

Seriously these colors are the best!!!!!

I’m so not ready for Christmas but I know I will be happy come December to have a new quilt to pull out and enjoy!

Each block is made up of 2 prints and a red center square.

Baby Mufasa was very helpful in the process. He’s good at grading all the pieces!

Here is another version of the Uneven 9-Patch. This version uses 20 fat eights instead of 10 fat quarters.

I love that a fat eighth bundle of this Cotton + Steel fabric, plus background fabric, makes this entire quilt!! I love that I can make this quilt top in a day! Totally my kind of quilt!

The quilting is so amazing on this!! I use @quilterlove66 on Instagram!

This is also a great pattern for beginners because it’s as easy as sewing 5″ squares together yet looks more interesting!

Filed Under: FEATURED, moda, quilt

Blue Whale Quilt Pattern

July 1, 2018 by Amanda 4 Comments

Meet Blue Whale! My newest quilt pattern inspired by the amazing Year of the Fat Quarter Navy Bundle!! Navy blue has been my favorite color all my life! It’s so fitting that Fat Quarter Shop choose July to be Navy because it’s my birthday month! As soon as I saw all these wonderful Navy fat quarters together my creative mind went to whales – my favorite ocean animal! I’m so excited!!!!

OK, so I’m just a little excited about this quilt, the color, the whales, the fabric, seriously this quilt is ME!!!!! I hope its YOU too!!!!

Here are the details:

Navy fabrics: Fat Quarter Shop’s July Navy curated bundle – 14 fat quarters

Background fabric: Essex Linen Natural – 2 1/2 yards

Block Size: 10″

Finished Quilt Size: 60″ x 70″

Pattern available in my Etsy shop for instant download

I love that the navys differ in shade and intensity, it makes the quilt more interesting!

The whales are machine appliquéd using Heat n Bond Lite. Yes, they are hand cut, but you can totally do it! Just put on Netflix and before you know it they’re done!

The blocks are super fun to make!

I started this project when I was in Utah visiting Amber from Gigi’s Thimble! We had so much fun sewing together!

Then the quilt project moved home to California where Mufasa stayed up late with me to help me sew! Actually I stayed up late and he slept on the blocks!

I loved seeing each block come together! I love all the different Navys!

I love having my daughter lay out my quilt blocks, she has a good eye for spacing colors!

This quilt feels like a little piece of the ocean in my home! So, even if you don’t live near the beach, you can feel like you do!

I hope you love it!!!! Happy July, Happy Summer!!!!!!

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, nautical, quilt, whale

Lemon Fresh Quilt Pattern

June 1, 2018 by Amanda 2 Comments

I have wanted to make a lemon quilt for the last 4 years and I finally did it!!! It’s available for instant download in my Etsy shop!

Fat Quarter Shop is celebrating “Year of the Fat Quarter”. Each month they are offering an amazingly curated color bundle. June is yellow!! Once I saw Fat Quarter Shop’s yellow fat quarter bundle I knew my lemon quilt was meant to be! Lemons are one of my favorite fruits ever and living in California there is no shortage of them!! I wanted a clean looking quilt (lemons are always used in cleaning products, right?) and a vintage feel at the same time…..and I think I accomplished both! I am so super in love!!

There are 15 delicious yellow fabrics in the June bundle and there are 15 lemony star blocks in the quilt and 15 appliquéd lemons! It’s works so perfectly!

I love that the yellow tones are not all the same. There are some buttery yellows, some tart yellows, some sunshine yellows, and some gold yellows! It really gives the quilt depth.

I had so much fun making these half square triangle stars! You could totally mix up the yellows for scrappy stars!

There is something about yellow and green that just feel fresh!! ….and there is something about yellow and green that make you thirsty for lemonade!

The quilt measures 60″ x 72″ which is a great throw size.

The quilt is made with 15 yellow fat quarters, 5 dark green fat quarters, and 5 light green fat quarters. The rest is background fabric! I love a stash buster quilt!

The lemons are machine appliquéd using Heat n Bond Lite – which is my favorite way to appliqué!!

I decided that Mufasa looks extremely handsome in yellow and green! He’s such a good quilt model 🙂
I really hope you love this quilt – it’s been in my head for so long that I am giddy about having it all put together!

Those paws!

Filed Under: fat quarter shop, FEATURED, quilt

Sunny Days Quilt Pattern

May 24, 2018 by Amanda 4 Comments

My friend Amy from Diary of a Quilter designed this adorable fabric called Sunnyside Avenue. These 70’s retro colors and patterns stole my heart! This quilt was totally inspired by the fabrics! I am always so happy when the finished quilt is even better than it looked in my head!

This quilt measure 72″ square with 12″ quilt blocks. Its a perfect throw size! And a bonus – It’s made with fat quarters! All the red, blue, green and yellow fabrics are fat quarters! I love it because it’s made of 2 alternating blocks and no sashing which is a time saver!!!